In one of the most fascinating and provocative speeches given at the 13th General Assembly of the African Evangelical Association (AEA), Pastor David Ewagata challenged the continental evangelical leaders to fundamentally reassess their assumptions and strategies regarding youth in Africa. Combining humor, hard data, biblical expositions and pointy critique, Ewagata called for a “mission mindset reset” and warned that the future of the African church depends on how it attracts today’s youngest generation.
Before the hundreds of representatives gathered in Nairobi spoke, the veteran youth pastor, founder of Yhub Networx and director of youth leadership development at Park University, opened his speech by highlighting the paradox of demographic advantage in Africa. The median age is about 19.7 years old, more than 70% of the population under the age of 30, and Africa has the youngest population in the world. However, Ewagata warned that this so-called “young bulge” is essentially not a blessing unless intentionally disciplined and mobilized.
“Hope is not a strategy,” he said, warning against the broad assumption that today’s perfect churches automatically guarantee faithful churches tomorrow. He emphasized that the strength of demographics without mental formation can lead to social instability just as mental renewal.
The “Golden Age” of the African Church – and its fragile future
Ewagata described the present moment as the “golden age” of the African church. He cited the national development conversation, increased education levels, increased infrastructure and increased visibility in expanding financial capacity. African churches currently hold large conferences and are based on architectural projects, contributing to a global mission.
“We are no longer just mission fields. We are mission forces,” he said, pointing to how African pastors and churches send missionaries to Europe, North America and more. However, he warned that such institutional maturation also poses a risk of self-sufficiency and self-sufficiency.
“The problem with success is that it’s building castles, and from those castles we start to think that we are co-running with Jesus and the universe,” he jokes, showing the tendency for the church to operate from a position of domination rather than humility and service.
Current Diagnosis: Amputation, Doctrine, Disciple Gap
Ewagata laid out a calm diagnosis of the church’s current attitude towards youth, marked by three major gaps.
First, he observed that young people were living more and more digitally while the church was functionally similar. As young people spend more than eight hours online a day, traditional church models miss out on the main fields that young people socialize, learn and shape their worldviews.
“The harvest is online. But the workers are offline,” he said.
He criticized the church for investing heavily in physical structures, while overlooking the digital platforms that young people are most engaged in. He challenged leaders to think of social media as a mission field rather than a threat, and asked for bold investments in digital evangelism and disciples.
Second, Evagata highlighted the doctrinal and moral confusion within the church as a serious barrier to reliable youth ministry. While concerns about Western pressures over sexual ethics are valid, he argued that the church must also face internal issues, such as premarital gender normalization, abuse of spiritual authority, and the celebrity culture surrounding pastors.
“We are not just facing LGBTQ issues, we also have to ask if sex is still sacred in our own feet,” he said.
Third, he emphasized the failure of the Church to deliberately disciple the youth. Drawing from Judge 2:10, he warned that a generation who does not know the Lord would rise up.
“What did your parents tell you about the Red Sea? How can you see the fish section in two, walk through the water, tell your child?”
The crisis of paternal identity and the rise of spiritual substitutes
An important section of Ewagata’s speech examined the widespread absence or dysfunction of fathers in many African homes and their theological implications. He explained that the broken home led to the rise of “spiritual fathers” and “mothers.”
Although spiritual leadership is not essentially an issue, he warned that the church sometimes took over the role of family discipleship without first addressing the underlying issues.
He shared his own story of alienation and reconciliation with his father, explaining a pivotal moment at his grandfather’s funeral when his father publicly affirmed his idyllic calling.
“Among all the prophecies and lying down the hand, there is nothing alternative to hearing my Father say, ‘David is called.’ ”
The message was clear. Biological parents, especially fathers, should be restored to their role as spiritual affirmations and disciplinary. Without this, the church will have a hard time building a safe identity for young people.
From assumptions to action: Rethinking the strategy of “Now Generation”
Evaguta rejected the “next generation” language and instead claimed that young people are the “current generation.” They are already born, have already formed beliefs, and are responding to what they have already seen in the church.
“If we’re not effectively minisizing with young people, we’re missing 70% of that point,” he said. “And while you may be dying, you may be dying with success on budgets, buildings, meetings.”
He called on the church to move to the church, assuming that young people will inherit their parents’ faith. Instead, the church must actively pass through the baton. Using a relay race metaphor, he explained that success in intergenerational transmissions depends not only on runner speed but also on handoff accuracy.
“The Usain Bolt can run 100 meters in 9.58 seconds. However, the four regular runners who often pass the baton can run faster than him,” he said. “The power of the relay is in transition.”
Build structures and ideas focused on young people
Ewagata provided a roadmap on how the church could move from maintaining legacy to a ministry focused on progress. This includes:
Planting the next generation of churches: Rather than simply creating a department for young people, he urged the church to free young leaders and plant contextualized congregations for its peers.
Investing in Youth Pastors: He questioned why churches in the majority of youth context often allocate most resources to adult ministries, citing the example of churches with only 13 adult pastors and one youth leader.
Accepting cultural discomfort: He acknowledged that young leaders may dress, talk, or worship, but insisted that this should not disqualify them. “The church you’re uncomfortable with may be the one who will reach the next generation.”
Evaluating the metrics of success: Rather than focusing solely on attendance and offerings, Ewagata proposed to measure transformation.
Seven “I” for intentional youth engagement
Expanding his framework, Ewagata detailed the seven strategic actions needed to reach youth.
1. Research: Conduct research into the culture, language and behavior of young people.
2. Identification: Equates with young people and understands their emotional and social realities.
3. Investment: Prioritize the Ministry of Youth for Time, Personnel and Budget.
4. Innovation: Use creative methods to present the gospel in a fresh way.
5. Involvement: Give young people meaningful leadership opportunities.
6. Impact: Young people in healthy doctrine and the tolerated life of the Holy Spirit.
7. Start: Launch a new expression of churches and ministry designed by young people.
Pleas for urgency and honesty
Ewagata concluded by appealing to his leaders to look into his life, pointing out that hypocrisy is the main cause of young people’s disillusionment with the church.
“If they don’t see it in your life, they don’t care about you preaching,” he said. He warned that the tolerance of one generation will become the principle of the next generation. Children who grew up in families where minor compromises are modeled, often develop to adopt those compromises as norms.
He urged his parents and pastors to take witnesses at home seriously, saying, “The church has not failed at the pulpit. It has failed at home.”
Quoting poem sal 145, Ewagata emphasized the biblical mission to pass on God’s work from one generation to the next. He called on church leaders to praise God’s actions not only in sermons but in lifestyle, relationships and institutional priorities.
“The next generation is already here,” he said. “The only question is whether we are willing to let go of the baton in time.”
